Explanation: Granted, if you will say that that man was adamant only that time, therefore [R. Tarfon] was pained;

He should have informed him that when most of the knives used to cut figs are stored away, they are Hefker!

Even if you will say that the man would not have heeded him, he could have paid him for the amount he ate!

However, if you will say that the entire year they were stealing grapes, what should R. Tarfon have done? Should he have paid so much money that he was not obligated?!

Explanation (cont.): We conclude that indeed, he should have, because he was very wealthy.

Limitation: Only in such a case it is forbidden [to use the crown of Torah], because the man still suspected him, and he left him due to the honor of his Torah;

However, surely it is permitted [to use the crown of Torah] to exempt himself from what he is not obligated, like we say below (62b) a Chacham may say "I will not give the head-tax;

Also, he may say "judge my case first." The Torah awarded such matters to Chachamim, just like it awarded Terumos and Ma'aseros to Kohanim and Leviyim.

Explanation: I am the servant of a priest of those who worship fire. Their servants are exempt from head-tax.

Implied question: Why isn't this like admission to idolatry?

Answer: It is clear that he says so only to exempt himself from head-tax.

Implied question: Why do we permit this only for Chachamim?

Answer: This is a Chidush, that even a Chacham may say so;

They (the tax collectors) think that he refers to idolatry, but his heart is to Shamayim, like it says "Hash-m Elokecha Esh Ochlah Hu."

Explanation: There are three times of rain. Each is called Revi'ah, because the rain is Rovetz (crouches) on the land.

It teaches that he is forbidden until the second Revi'ah, because Stam [Revi'ah] connotes the second. It is not so early as the first Revi'ah, and not so late as the third.

However, he need not wait until it passes, even if he said Ad she'Yehu Geshamim, because it time is not fixed.

Question: Why doesn't the first Tana hold that also "Ad ha'Geshem" refers to truly falling, just like he holds that Ad ha'Geshamim connotes?

Answer: It seems to me that the reason is because letter of the law, it connotes "until [it] comes";

This is just like we say about anything without a fixed time, i.e. there is no fixed time for its duration;

One does not enter himself into a Safek to be forbidden in it (the entire duration). Therefore, he is forbidden only until it begins;

Also here, whenever there is no fixed time for the beginning, for sometimes the rain delays greatly to come, one does not enter himself into a Safek, so he means until the time comes.

Proof: The Yerushalmi asks, if he fixed a time for his son's banquet, and said "Konam is wine until will be my son's banquet", is this like a matter with a fixed time?

Or, since he can delay it and make it later, it is as if it has fixed time!

Explanation: Surely, the question is, do we say that since he fixed a time, it does not cross his mind that he will delay it. Therefore, he forbade himself until it truly will be;

As much as he delayed it afterwards, he is forbidden until it happens.

Or, perhaps since he knows that he can delay it, he does not enter himself into a Safek. Therefore, even though he said "until it will be", he means "until comes the time that he fixed, and not until it truly will be.

Inference: From here you learn that anything without a fixed time for its beginning, he means until the time comes;

Therefore, rain, which has no known time for when it falls, letter of the law, when he said "Ad ha'Geshem", it is until the time comes;

Even Rabanan agree about this. However, they argue about Ad ha'Geshamim. Since it would have sufficed to say "Ad ha'Geshem", and he said Ad ha'Geshamim, Rabanan hold that he comes to add;